00:44 - ApothecaryI never saw the appeal of Pallbearer. Ok music, but not worth the enormous praise they've been getting by some. Didn't ever impress me much on album and when I saw them live with Deafheaven I wasn't really won over either

Enslaved is one of those few bands out there that is getting better and better after every release. Their music, while it keeps its roots, is developing towards complete perfection.

The new album pretty much follows the footsteps of their previous album Below the Lights, but even better and more complete. For all of you who have not heard Below the Lights and Enslaved´s earlier work (is that even possible for a black metal fan?) I must warn you that this is not one of your typical "grim" or "necro" black metal albums. So if that is what you are searching for, just something that is trOO and all that stuff, then please, don't waste your time here because trust me, this is not what you are looking for. This album is for a bit more, well let's say; "mature" fans of black metal.

Psychedelic and progressive, filled with energy and technique; Isa is like black metal meets progressive metal, taking all the darkness from black metal and mixing it with all the techniques from progressive metal. Traces from bands such as Isis or Cult of Luna can also clearly be heard throughout the album, making it even more interesting and complex.

Isa is like an eagle that flies high in the sky, keeps his head up proud and strong. Any moment he can change his direction in order to go down and catch his prey, you never know what to expect!

So to all of you metalheads out there, mark my words clearly; After 10 years, people will look back at this release and remember it as one of those classic and famous black metal releases right up there with albums like: Under The Sign Of The Black Mark, Det Som En Gang Var and De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas. If you buy 1 album this year, then make sure it is Isa because this is not what you can afford to miss.

I just got this album, and it's really good, all of Enslaved music is just pure amazing to me. These guys are just one of the best BM bands, in this case it does'nt matter if they're true. The music just speaks for itself.
All Hail Enslaved

----Any man can stand adversity, but to test his character give him power - A. Lincoln

After the little decadence (imo) in Beyond the Lights and Monumension, they come back destroying. And from here to on only released top class albuns. This is one of my favorites.

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----member of the true crusade against old school heavy metal, early 80s thrash, NWOBHM, traditional doom, first and second wave black metal, old school death metal, US power metal, 70s prog rock and atmospheric doomsludgestoner. o/

This review accurately and succinctly summarizes the sheer greatness that is Isa. Powerful, graceful, and passionate, Isa delivered progressive black metal as no other album could and left a mark in the metal world. Easily the best tracks are "Isa", "Bounded by Allegiance", and "Return to Yggdrasil".

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"Man does at all times only what he wills, and yet he does this necessarily. But this is because he already is what he wills." - Arthur Schopenhauer